On Wednesday, August 26 we took a minivan ride from Phnom Penh to the country's second city Battambang. Battambang was to be our experience of a real Cambodian town. Not crazy busy like Phnom Penh or Touristy like Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Half way the van stopped for snacks and bathroom stop. The town did not disappoint.
Again the night before I had to Tuk Tuk around Phnom Penh to buy cash tickets for the rear four person seat of a minivan for five hours. The trip was uneventful, except for the morning, when we had to pack up, which was a rushed affair. And the seats were a tad crowded even though the minivan was nice. I elected for the minivan, because the big buses make more stops.
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We got into the city by about 2 in the rain. A Tuk Tuk from the hotel, the biggest the hotel guy knew due to our luggage, picked us up. We took a liking to the driver immediately and hired him to take us to the Bat Cave, the killing cave and the pagoda view all at the same place. The boys and I went.
The bat cave is at the base of a small steep hill. Ten million bats stream out each day at dusk and stream in each day at about four. It takes an hour for the stream to pass. The bats go out in a stream and eventually disperse. The steam had not started yet, so we headed up to the pagoda and killing cave at the top.
On the way up a steep road the driver told us his story. He had a three and six year old daughter, but could not afford to send his daughter to school now, because business was slow. Good education requires paying the teacher each day. He walked up on his flip flops and was wearing a flimsy emergency raincoat that he had bought as we headed out. He admired Saitha's $5 poncho: simple but of sturdy plastic.
At the top he told us the story of the killing caves. People would be imprisoned in the pagoda and then murdered at the top of the cave. The bodies were thrown in, separated into men, women and children. After the KR were defeated most of the bones were removed. A few were placed in a shrine that was built in the cave.
We stayed up there for a bit and were mostly amused by the macaque monkeys that climbed all over the pagoda. The way down was by a steep staircase, which was a challenge for our driver on his flip flops as it was still raining. The bats had started streaming, which was fun. The kids really liked the driver and asked me to give him a big tip. Tipping is not common there. I gave him $20 instead of $12 and told him of the boys' request.
Dinner was on the roof of the hotel. Many buildings have a covered rooftop terrace that the hotel had turned into restaurant including cooking space. It was a chaotic affair with young waiters. The food was moderate, but the prices were the lowest we have seen in Cambodia: about $2 - 3 per dish. The hotel was run by Chinese investors I assume. All in all a good day.
Saitha's Photos 131 - 121
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